Article feeding mechanism



Sept. 21, 1954 Filed D80. 11, 1951 H. PETERS ARTICLE FEEDING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 21, 1954 H. PETERS, 2,689,731

ARTICLE FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 11. 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR #4??? F575;;

Sept. 21, 1954 H. PETERS ARTICLE FEEDING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 11, 1951 EN TUIR.

H. PETERS 2,689,731

ARTICLE FEEDING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. #6 68) Pfff/Pf NSA Illlll llull llalullrlln llllllnalls I 1.]. l 5.11%.: "J!

Sept. 21, 1954 Filed Dec. 11 1951 Sept. 21, 1954 H. PETERS ARTICLE FEEDING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 11, 1951 H. PETERS ARTICLE FEEDING MECHANISM Sept. 21, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 11, 1951 INVENTOR.

Sept. 21, 1954 Filed Dec. 11. 1951 H. PETERS ARTICLE FEEDING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. #6 7 PER-5 p 1954 H. PETERS ARTICLE FEEDING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 11, 1951 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 21, 1954 ARTICLE FEEDING MECHANISM Harry Peters, Middletown, Ohio, assignor to The Raymond Bag Company, Middletown, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application December 11, 1951, Serial No. 260,981

16 Claims.

v This invention relates to a machine for automatically feeding articles from a stack of said articles and is designed more particularly for feeding flat bag tubes from the bottom of a stack of such tubes to a mechanism which is to complete the construction of the bag.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine which will Withdraw the lowermost article from the stack of articles and advance the same to a point of delivery.

In the manufacture of multiply sewn bags it is customary to simultaneously withdraw a plurality of superposed webs of paper from rolls of paper and fold said webs one about the other to form a continuous multiply tube, and often the lateral edges of the multiply tube are folded inwardly between the side walls thereof to form gussets. The tube is then subjected to pressure to crease the fold lines and thus flatten the tube, and the flattened tube is then severed into bag length sections, herein referred to as flat bag tubes. The bag tubes are thereafter transferred to mechanism for completing the construction of the bag. Usually the bag tubes are delivered individually to a sewing machine which closes one or both ends thereof, or first to a machine which tucks, or folds in, one corner of the bag tube to form a valve, and then to the sewing machine.

Heretofore the bag tubes have been delivered manually to the sewing machine or to the valve tucking machine and it is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism which will automatically withdraw the lowermost bag tube from a stack of such tubes and deliver the same to the proper machine, or other point of discharge.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple eflicient feeding means for advancing the lowermost tube in a stack of tubes with relation to the stack.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing the forward movement of the stack of tubes while permitting the forward movement of the lowermost tube in the stack.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for retaining the forward edge portion of the lowermost tube at, or restoring the same to, a thickness which will permit its movement through a restricted passage.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for completing the withdrawal of a tube which has been advanced by said feeding means and advancing the same to a point of discharge.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for relieving the lowermost tube in a stack of tubes of a portion of the weight of the upper tubes in said stack while it is being withdrawn from said stack.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the several moving parts of the mechanism may be actuated from a single source of power in timed relation one to the other.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the left hand side of the machine, that is, the side which is lowermost in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rear portion of the left hand side of said machine, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is an elevation of the rear portion of the right hand side of the machine, partly broken away; Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the machine, partly broken away; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken through the machine on the line 6-6 on Fig. 1, showing one series of belts; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-7 of Fig. 1, partly broken away and with a stack of bag tubes on the supporting structure; and Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 3, partly broken away and with a stack of bag tubes on the supporting structure.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of the invention and have shown the same as designed for feeding fiat bag tubes but it is to be understood that the mechanism as a whole, as well as the several parts thereof, may take various forms and may be used for various purposes, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the embodiment here illustrated the invention comprises a main frame, or supporting structure, having right and left side members each including upright standards Ill, H and I2 and longitudinal members [3, I4 and 15, the side members being rigidly connected one with the other in laterally spaced relation by cross bars, such as angle bars l6, l1 and H3. The lower longitudinal members 13 extend rearwardly beyond the upper members [4 and l 5 and constitute a support for a stack of bag tubes, as shown in Fig. 7. Preferably this rear portion of the frame is provided with transverse rods 19 and 20 on which are mounted a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinal bars 2! on which the stack of tubes at is supported. (Figs. 7 and 8.)

Supported on the frame above the forward portion of the stack supporting part thereof is a device for preventing the forward movement of the stack of tubes while permitting the forward movement of the lowermost tube with relation to the stack. This device, which is herein referred to as a barrier, is here shown as comprising a plurality of laterally spaced upright bars 22 which are mounted on the upper cross member I6 and a supplemental lower cross bar 23. (Fig. 5.) The lower ends of the laterally spaced bars of the barrier are spaced from the upper surface of the stack supporting part of the frame a distance just slightly greater than the thickness of a single tube, thus forming a passage 24 which permits the forward movement of the lowermost tube in the stack but prevents the simultaneous forward movement of more than one tube. The barrier is vertically adjustable to permit the same to be adjusted to accommodate articles or bag tubes of different thicknesses. As here shown the upright members 22 are secured to the transverse members !6 and 23 by bolt and slot connections, as shown at 25.

A feeding device is provided for individually advancing the lowermost tube of a stack of tubes on the rear portion of said frame. This feeding device may take various forms but preferably it comprises one or more feeding elements 26 mounted for rotation about a common axis below the stack supporting part of the structure '(Fig. 7) and adapted upon each rotation thereof to engage and advance the lowermost tube, and i move the forward portion thereof through the passage 24. There may be one or more of these feeding elements, depending upon the length of the articles or tubes which are to be fed, and in the present instance there is provided a plurality of feeding elements. In the form here shown each feeding element is in the nature of an arm rigidly mounted on a shaft 21 extending transversely to the main frame and rotatably mounted in the respective side members of the main frame. Each arm has an arcuate outer end surface described about an axis parallel with its axis of rotation and is adapted to move between adjacent bars 2! of the stack supporting part of the structure into engagement with the lowermost tube in the stack of tubes on said bars 2! and move the same forwardly. Preferably the arcuate outer end of the feeding element is provided with a friction surface, as by securing thereto a layer of friction material, such as rubber. The radial length of each feeding element is slightly greater than the distance between its axis of rotation and the lowermost tube in the stack. Thus, as the feeding elements rotate the outer ends thereof will lift a portion of the lowermost tube out of contact with the supporting bars 2i and exerts sufficient force thereon to project the forward end thereof forwardly through and beyond the passage 24. The shaft 21 is provided at one end thereof with .a gear 29 (Fig. 2) which meshes with a transmission gear 33 which in turn meshes with a gear 3! secured to the outer end of a short shaft 32 which is connected by bevel gears 33 (Fig. 1) with a power shaft 34, which may be connected at any suitable source of power. Preferably the shaft 34 is connected with the sewing machine, so that the feeding mechanism operates in accurately timed relation to the sewing mechanism.

Mounted between the longitudinal members 13 of the main frame are a plurality of belts 93 extending lengthwise of the frame and supported on pulleys Q4 carried by a shaft 95 supported in the side members It near the rear ends thereof, and on pulleys 96 mounted on a transverse shaft 7 91 supported on the frame adjacent to but below the members 13. The shaft 91 and the pulleys 96 are rotated by a gear 98 secured to the shaft and meshing with the transmission gear 30, the rotation being in a direction to move the upper stretches of the belts B3 forwardly. The upper stretches of the belts 93 are arranged adiacent to the respective stack supporting bars 2| and are preferably supported thereon. As here shown (Fig. 8) each bar 21 has an upper portion 2la. on which the stack of tubes rests and a lateral portion 2 lb on which the upper stretch of the belt 93 is supported and on which it moves.

The upper surface of the belt may havelight' contact with the lowermost tube in the stack of tubes but it does not exert material force there on. In the present arrangement the shaft 95 carrying the pulleys St is supported close to the rear end of the main frame but this is not essential and these pulleys may be supported in any suitable position in the rear of the barrier 22. The forward portions of the belts 93 co-operate with and form a part of a second feeding device adapted to engage the forward portion of a tube which has been advanced by the above mentioned feeding device and complete the withdrawal of the same from the sack, and then further advance the same. In the present construction this second feeding device includes a plurality of rollers 99 which are secured to a shaft lfifi, mounted in the side walls of the main frame, immediately above the upper stretches of the respective belts 93 and in such close relation thereto that a tube moving beneath and beyond the barrier will be gripped between the roller and the belt and moved forwardly thereby. A second series of belts ill! extend about pulleys I32 rigidly mounted on the shaft Hi6, and about pulleys i553 mounted on a shaft EM and pulleys I mounted on a shaft M98. The lower stretch of each belt iii-l is supported in a plane above and parallel with the upper stretch of the corresponding belt 93, and close to that belt. The several pulleys are rotated, as hereinafter described, in a direction to move the lower stretches of the belts H3! in the same direction as the movement of the upper. V

stretches of the belts Thus, a tube moving beneath the barrier will enter the space between the parallel portions of the belts Q3 and it! and will be gripped and moved forwardly thereby, and that movement will continue after the tube is passed beyond the roller 95.

Arranged to receive the tubes from the last mentioned feeding device and move the same toward the point of discharge are plurality of pairs of belts having superposed portions moving in the same direction. The lower belts it? extend about pulleys if on the shaft Si and about pulleys are on a shaft lit. The upper of the superposed belts, iii, extend abcut pulleys H2 on the shaft Hi l, and about pulleys i it on a shaft lid, with the lower stretches above and close to the upper stretches of the respective belts lii'l. The shaft its is driven from the shaft 57 by the belts I01 and. is provided at one end with a gear H5 meshing with a gear M8 on a shaft lid, thus driving the two belts iii? and ill at opposite directions with their adjacent stretches moving in the same direction. Additional pulleys ill on the shaft Ht are connected by belts IE8 with pulleys M9 on a shaft was mounted in brackets 52! on the forward ends of the upper frame members i5, and these belts receive the tubes from the belts I87 and iii and continue their movement in a substantially horizontal plane. Mounted on a shaft I22 supported on the main frame above the shaft I are a plurality of segments I23 which are rotated in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, to engage a tube supported on the upper stretch of the belt I I8, adjacent pulley H9, and discharge the same from the feeding mechanism or to a position in which it can be engaged by a part of the feeding mechanism of the valve tucking machine. The shaft I 22 is driven by a sprocket chain I 24 from a shaft I25 having thereon a gear I26 which meshes with the gear 98 on a shaft 91. In the present arrangement the forward edge of the tube engages trip fingers I28 on a rock shaft I2il. These fingers accurately position the tubes for delivery to the valve tucking machine and the rock shaft I29 is operated at predetermined intervals to move the fingers out of the path of the tubes and release the same for movement by the segments. As here shown the rock shaft is provided with a crank arm I30 which is connected by a rod I3I with a lever I32 which is actuated by a cam I33 on a shaft I33a. The shaft is driven from the shaft I22 by a chain and sprocket wheel connection I 34.

To facilitate the movement of the lowermost tube in a stack of tubes with relation to the stack there is provided means for relieving the lowermost tube of a portion of the weight of the upper tubes. For this purpose there is mounted on the main frame forwardly beyond the barrier a lifting element which is movable into engagement with the forward edge portion of an intermediate tube in the stack of tubes and then upwardly to lift the forward portions of said intermediate tube and of the tubes above the same. As shown in Fig. 7, this lifting element comprises an arm 35 having at its lower end a rearwardly extending part, such as a prong 36, rigidly mounted at its upper end and a shaft 3! extending transversely to the main frame and rotatably mounted in slide blocks 38 which are movable in vertical guide ways 39 in plates 49 at the respective sides of the main frame. Rigidly connected with the shaft 31 and extending downwardly therefrom is an arm 4I adapted to be engaged by a cam 42 on a shaft 43 and moved rearwardly thereby to cause the prong on the arm 35 to engage the aforesaid intermediate tube in the stack of tubes. A second arm 44 is pivotally mounted at 45 on each plate 49 and is connected at its rear end with the corresponding slide block 38. Eacharm 44 has at its forward end a roller 46 adapted to be engaged by a cam 41 mounted on a shaft 48 and move the arm 44 in a direction to move the lifting element 36 upwardly and thereby lift the forward edges of a portion of the upper tubes in a stack of tubes out of engagement with the lower portion of the stack. A spring 49 acts on the slide block 38 to move the same downwardly when the cam 41 releases the arm 44. Any suitable number of lifting arms may be mounted on the shaft 31.

Lifting elements may also be provided at the respective sides of the stack of tubes to lift the adjacent edge portions of a part of the tubes and thus further relieve the lowermost tube of the weight of the stack. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 8, there is mounted on the frame at each side of the rear portion thereof an upright structure, here shown as comprising three upright members 50 spaced laterally one from the other lengthwise of the frame. These structures serve both to limit the movement of the tubes transversely to the frame and to support lifting devices and are preferably relatively adjustable transversely to 6. the frame to accommodate them to tubes of different lengths. As here shown the upright members of each structure are rigidly mounted at their lower ends on the upper member of a twopart clamping device comprising upper and lower members, 89 and 90, having opposed recesses to embrace respectively the upper and lower surfaces of the rods I9 and 20. The upper and lower members of the two clamping devices are connected one to the other by bolts 9| and thus may be adjusted lengthwise of the rods and rigidly secured thereto in adjusted positions thereon. Supporting members or plates 5! 5Ia and 5 I b are rigidly secured to and extend outwardly from the respective upright members 58. Mounted in the plates are three shafts, 52, 53 and 54. Mounted on the shaft 52 is a lifting element 55 having at its lower end a prong 55 to engage an intermediate tube in a stack of tubes. Also mounted on the shaft 52 is a second lifting element 51 having at its lower end an inwardly facing block 58, preferably of friction material such as rubber. The lifting element 5! is of such length that the block will engage the edge portions of a plurality of tubes above but adjacent to the lowermost tube and will lift the end portions of the engaged tubes and will also resist the forward movement thereof. The shaft 52 is rotatably. mounted in slide blocks 59 mounted in vertical guide ways 59a in the respective plates 5! and urged downwardly by springs 59b. Rigidly secured to the shaft 52 is an actuating arm 6!! arranged to be engaged by a cam 6| on the shaft 54 and moved in a direction to move the lifting elements 55 and 51 into engagement with the adjacent edges of tubes in said. stack of tubes. A torsion spring 6011 mounted on the shaft 52 and connected at one end with the shaft and at its other end with the plate filb returns the shaft to its normal rotative position when it is released by the cam BI. An arm 52 is pivotally mounted between its ends on the plate em for movement about an axis parallel with the shaft 52, as shown at 63, and is mounted at one end on the shaft 52, for a slight longitudinal movement thereon, and is provided at its other end with a roller 64 adapted to beengaged by a cam 55 on the shaft 53 and to thereby move the slide block and lifting elements upwardly to cause the same to lift separate portions of the tubes in the stack of tubes. These lifting mechanisms may be driven in any suitable manner but preferably they are driven from the shaft 2'! of the feeding device and as here shown (Fig. 4) a shaft 65 is mounted in bearing brackets 61 and is driven by a sprocket chain 68 extending about sprocket wheels rigidly secured to the outer ends of the shaft 55 and the shaft 21. Adjacent each side of the frame a short shaft 69 is mounted in bearing brackets Iii adjacent each end of the shaft 55 and is connected with that shaft by a bevel gearing l I. A sprocket wheel I2 on each shaft 89 is connected by a chain 13 with a sprocket wheel 14 on the shaft 54 of the adjacent lifting device and the shaft 54 is connected with the shaft 53 by a sprocket chain I5 extending about sprocket wheels 16 and TI on the shafts 54 and 53 respectively.

The lifting devices are, of course, actuated before the feeding device engages the lowermost tube in a stack of tubes and the upward pressure of the feeding device on the lowermost tube has some tendency to move the forward edge of that tube upwardly and further the tubes, particu larly tubes of the gusset type, have a tendency to expand. Therefore, there is provided means struction shown (Figs. 3 and '7) a shaft H extending transversely to the frame, beyond. the barrier 22, is mounted at its ends in slide blocks 16 supported in vertical guide ways '53 in the plates t8 and urged downwardly by springs 8E Rigidly secured to the shaft are fingers 85, the lower ends of which normally extend to positions adjacent the lower edge of the barrier. An actuating arm 82 is pivotally mounted between its ends on each side plate 40, is connected at one end with the corresponding slide block 78 and is provided at its outer end with a roller 83 arranged to be engaged by a cam 34 on a shaft 85 to move the slide blocks 18 and the shaft ll upwardly from its normal position. An arm 88 is rigidly secured to the shaft Ti and is actuated by a cam 37 on a shaft 88 to move the finger Bl, while in an elevated position, inwardly above the upper surface of the forward edge of the lowermost tube. While in that position both arms are released by the respective cams and the springs 86 move the fingers downwardly to a position close to and usually in light contact with the lowermost tube, the contact serving to compress the tube sufiiciently to permit its movement through the passage or to prevent its upward movement or expansion if it is in a normal position.

All movable parts of the'apparatus are driven from a single source of power through the shaft 3 5. The shaft 9!, which is geared to the shaft 34, extends across the main frame and is provided on the right hand side of that frame with a sprocket wheel I35 which is connected by a sprocket chain 938 with a sprocket wheel E3? on the shaft 83. (Fig. i.) A gear i la on the shaft 88, not shown in Fig. 4, meshes with a gear I38 on the shaft 85 which meshes with a gear B38 on the shaft 23, and a gear Hit rigid with the shaft #3 meshes with the gear Ml on the shaft :38 whereby these shafts and the parts driven thereby are operated in accurately timed relation one to the other. The belts it! and ii i are also geared to the power shaft 34 and the pulley its for the belt E I l rotates that pulley and drives the belt Edi, the pulleys i592 and is? rotating on their respective shafts and the cam shafts are driven through suitable geared connections with the shaft Q'l.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an apparatus for individually feeding flat bag tubes, a supporting structure having a horizontal portion adapted to support a stack of said tubes, a feeding device movably supported on said structure to engage the lowermost tube in a stack of tubes on said structure and move the same forwardly with relation to said stack, a plurality of upright elements supported on said structure to limit the forward movement of the tubes in said stack above said lowermost tube, each of said elements having a slot in the lower portion thereof and being spaced from said horizontal portion of said structure to permit the passage of said lowermost tube only, a shaft extending transversely to said structure forwardly beyond said upright elements, means for supporting said shaft for vertical movement and for rotary movement, said shaft being biased downwardly, fingers secured to said shaft adjacent to the respective upright members and extending downwardly therefrom and into the slots in the respective upright members, cam means for moving said shaft upwardly, for rotating the same to move F the ends of the fingers thereon into positions above the forward edge portion of said lowermost tube in said stack of tubes and then releasing the same for downward movement into engagement with said lowermost tube to confine the edge portion of said tube to a thickness not greater than the spaces between said upright members and. said horizontal part of said structure, and operating means for actuating said feeding means and said cam means.

2. In an apparatus for individually feeding fiat bag tubes, a supporting structure having a part to support a stack of said tubes, a feeding device movably supported on said structure to engage the lowermost tube in a stack of tubes on said part of said structure and move the same forwardly with relation to said stack, means for actu-' ating said feeding means, means for relieving said lowermost tube of a portion of the weight of the tubes in said stack above the same during said movement thereof, including a lifting element movably supported on said structure and having a part to be engaged with the forward edge por tion of an intermediate tube in said stack of tubes, other lifting elements supported on said structure and having parts to be engaged respectively with the lateral edge portions of intermediate tubes in said stack of tubes, means for moving said lifting elements into engagement with the respective edge portions of said intermediate tubes and for imparting upward movement thereto to lift portions of said intermediate tubes out of contact with the next lower tubes.

3. In an apparatus for individually feeding flat bag tubes, a supporting structure having a portion adapted to support a stack of said tubes, a feeding device movably supported on said structure to engage the lowermost tube of a stack of tubes on said structure and move the same for wardly with relation to said stack, a barrier to limit the forward movement of the tubes in said stack above said lowermost tube and comprising a plurality of upright elements spaced laterally one from the other, a shaft extending transversely to said structure forwardly beyond said upright elements, means for supporting said shaft for vertical movement and for rotary movement, said shaft being biased downwardly, fingers secured to said shaft and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, means for moving said shaft upwardly and then rotating the same to move the lower ends of said fingers into engagement with the forward edge portions of tubes in said stack of tubes and then releasing the same for downward movement while in engagement with said tubes, a second shaft rotatably supported above the first mentioned shaft for vertical movement and rotary movement with relation to said structure, fingers rigidly secured to said shaft, extending downwardly therefrom and having rearwardly extending parts, means- 9 for rotating said shaft to engage said parts of said fingers with the forward edge portion of an intermediate tube in said stack of tubes and for then moving said shaft upwardly while said parts are in engagement with said intermediate tube.

4. In an apparatus for individually feeding fiat bag tubes, a supporting structure having a portion adapted to support a stack of said tubes, a feeding device movably supported on said structure to engage the lowermost tube of a stack of tubes on said structure and move the same forwardly with relation to said stack, a barrier to limit the forward movement of the tubes in said stack above said lowermost tube, bearing members mounted on the respective side portions of said structure for vertical movement, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing members, lifting fingers secured to said shaft for movement therewith and having parts to engage the forward edge portion of an intermediate tube in said stack of tubes, cam means for rotating said shaft in a direction to move said parts of said fingers into engagement with said tube, other cam means for moving said shaft and said fingers upwardly, and means for actuating said cam means in timed relation to first engage said lifting fingers with said intermediate tube and to then elevate the same to lift the forward portion of said tube out of contact with the next lower tube.

5. In an apparatus for individually feeding flat bag tubes, a supporting structure having a portion adapted to support a stack of said tubes, a feeding device movably supported on said structure to engage the lowermost tube of a stack of tubes on said structure and move the same forwardly with relation to said stack, a barrier to limit the forward movement of the tubes in said stack above said lowermost tubeand comprising a plurality of upright elements spaced laterally one from the other, bearing members mounted on the respective sides of said structure for vertical movement, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing members, lifting fingers secured to said shaft for movement therewith and having parts to engage the forward edge portion of an intermediate tube in said stack of tubes, cam means for rotating said shaft in a direction to move said parts of said fingers into engagement with said tube, other cam means for moving said shaft and said fingers upwardly, and means for actuating said cam means in timed relation to first engage said lifting fingers with said intermediate tube and to then elevate the same to lift the forward portion of said tube out of contact with the next lower tube, other bearing members supported on said structure for vertical movement below the first mentioned bearing members, spring means urging the last mentioned bearing members downwardly, a second shaft rotatably mounted in said last mentioned bearing members, fingers secured to said second shaft for movement therewith and having at their lower ends tube engaging parts, cam means for moving said second shaft upwardly, and other cam means for rotating said second shaft when in an elevated position to engage the fingers thereon with the forward edge portions of the lowermost tube in said stack of tubes and to then release said shaft for downward movement by said spring means.

6. In an apparatus for individually feeding flat bag tubes, a supporting structure having a part to support a stack of tubes, a feeding device movably supported on said structure to engage the lowermost tube in a stack of tubes on said part of said structure and move the same forwardly with relation to said stack, means for actuating said feeding device, shafts extending lengthwise of said part of said structure at the respective sides thereof, means for supporting the last mentioned shafts on said structure for both vertical movement and rotary movement, lifting elements rigidly secured to the respective shafts for movement therewith and having parts to engage the adjacent edge portions of tubes in said stack of tubes above the lowermost tube, cam means for rotating said shafts to move said lifting elements into engagement with said tubes, other cam means for imparting vertical movement to said shafts and said lifting elements to lift said edge portions of the tubes which are engaged by said lifting elements out of contact with the next lower tubes and thereby reduce the weight on said lowermost tube while it is being advanced by said feeding device, and means for actuating said cam means in timed relation to said' feeding means.

'7. In an apparatus for individually feeding fiat bag tubes, a supporting structure having a portion adapted to support a stack of said tubes, a feeding device movably supported on said structure to engage the lowermost tube of a stack of tubes on said structure and move the same forwardly with relation to said stack, means for actuating said feeding device, supplemental supporting structures at the respective sides of said stack supporting part of the first mentioned structure, a lifting mechanism mounted on each supplemental structure, each lifting mechanism comprising a shaft mounted on its said supplemental structure for both vertical movement and rotary movement, a lifting finger secured to said shaft for movement therewith and having a part to engage the adjacent edge portion of an intermediate tube in said stack of tubes, cam means mounted on said supplemental structure for imparting, rotary movement to said shaft to engage said lifting finger with said intermediate tube, other cam means mounted on said supplemental structure for imparting vertical movement to said shaft, and means for actuating said cam means to impart said movements successively to said shaft.

8. In an apparatus for individually feeding fiat bag tubes, a supporting structure having a portion adapted to support a stack of said tubes, a feeding device movably supported on said structure to engage the lowermost tube of a stack of tubes on said structure and move the same forwardly with relation to said stack, a plurality of upright members mounted on said structure at the respective sides of the stack supporting part thereof and spaced one from the other lengthwise of said structure, a lifting mechanism mounted on each group of upright members and comprising a shaft supported thereon for rotary movement and vertical movement, lifting fingers mounted on said shaft and each having at its lower end a part to engage the adjacent edge portions of a tube in a stack of tubes on said stack supporting part of said structure, an arm secured to said shaft, a cam engaging said arm to move said lifting elements in tube engaging direction, asecond arm pivotally mounted on one of said upright mem actuating shaft for said feeding mechanism to actuate said cams in timed relation to said feeding mechanism.

7 9. In an apparatus'for individually feeding flat bag tubes, a supporting structure having a part to support a stack of tubes, a feeding device movably supported on said structure to engage the lowermost tube in a stack of tubes on said part of said structure and move said lowermost tube forwardly with relation to said stack, a shaft for actuating said feeding device, a lifting mechanism supported on said structure at each side of said stack supporting part thereof, each of said lifting mechanisms comprising a shaft extending lengthwise of said structure and mounted on said structure for both rotary movement and vertical movement, a lifting element secured to said shaft for movement therewith and having at one end thereof a part to engage the adjacent edge portion of a tube in said stack of tubes above the lowermost tube, cam means for rotating the shaft of said lifting mechanism to move said lifting element into engagement with said tube, other cam means for imparting vertical movement to the shaft of said lifting mechanism and to the lifting element secured thereto to lift the edge portion of the tube which is engaged by said lifting element out of contact with the next lower tube, and a driving connection between the shaft of said feeding device and the shafts of the respective lifting mechanisms.

10. In an apparatus for individually feeding fiat bag tubes, a supporting structure having a part to support a stack of tubes, a feeding device movably supported on said structure to engage the lowermost tube in a stack of tubes on said part of said structure and move said lowermost tube forwardly with relation to said stack, a shaft for actuating said feeding device, supplemental supporting structures mounted at the respective sides of the stack supporting structure, each supplemental structure comprising a plurality of upright members spaced one from the other lengthwise of said apparatus, a shaft mounted in said upright structures for both rotary movement and vertical movement, lifting elements secured to said shaft and having parts to engage the adjacent edges of tubes in said stack of tubes above the lowermost tube and to lift said tubes engaged thereby, an arm secured to said shaft for rotating the same, a second arm mounted on a fixed axis on said supplemental structure and connected with said shaft to move the latter upwardly, two cam shafts mounted on said supplemental structure, a cam carried to one of said shafts to actuate the first mentioned arm, a cam carried by the other of said shafts to actuate the last mentioned arm, a supplemental shaft mounted on said stack supporting structure extending transversely thereto, a driving connection between the shaft of said feeding mechanism and said supplemental shaft, and means for connecting said supplemental shaft with the several shafts on both supplemental structures.

11. An article feeding apparatus comprising a supporting structure having a part adapted to support a stack of articles to be individually advanced by said apparatus, a feeding device supported on said structure below said part thereof to engage the lowermost article of the stack and move it forwardly with relation to the other articles in the stack, a barrier supported above the path of movement of the lowermost article to prevent the forward movement of the other articles in the stack, a second feeding device supported on said structure beyond said barrier to engage an article advanced by the first mentioned feeding device and further advance the same, a trip finger in the path of the advancing article to arrest its advance by said second feeding means and accurately position the article'for delivery to the next section of the apparatus, means to move said trip finger out of the path of the advancing article, and operating means for actuating said feeding devices and said trip finger moving means in timed relation.

'12. An article feeding apparatus comprising a supporting structure having a part adapted to support a stack of articles to be individually ad vanced by said apparatus, a feeding device supported on said structure below said part to engage the lowermost article in the stack and move it forwardly with relation to the other articles in the stack, a barrier supported above the path of movement of the lowermost article to prevent the forward movement of the other articles in the stack, a second feeding device supported on said structure beyond said barrier to receive an article advanced by the first mentioned feeding device and continue its advance, said second device including a belt the upper stretch of which is adapted to receive the article and carry it forward, a trip finger mounted on a rock shaft for arresting the forward movement of the article on the said belt, cam means for actuating said rock shaft at predetermined intervals to movesaid trip finger out of the path of the article and release the article for continued advance, and operating means for actuating said feeding devices and said cam in timed relation.

13. In an apparatus for individually feeding collapsed bag tubes, a supporting structure having a part to support a stack of tubes, a feeding device movably supported on said structure to engage the lowermost tube in the stack and move the lowermost tube forwardly with relation to the stack, a lifting mechanism supported on said structure at each side of said stack supporting part, each of said lifting mechanisms comprising a shaft extending lengthwise of said structure and mounted on said structure for both rotary and vertical movement, a first lifting element secured to said shaft for movement therewith and having at one end thereof a part to engage the adjacent end portion of a tube in the stack above the lowermost tube, a second lifting element secured to said shaft for movement therewith and having at its lower end an inwardly facing block, said second lifting element being of a length such that the block will engage end portions'of a plurality of tubes above but adjacent the lowermost tube in the stack, cam means for rotating said shaft to move said lifting elements into engagement with the stack, other cam means for imparting vertical movement to said shaft and to the lifting elements secured thereto, whereby to lift the end portion of the tube engaged by said first lifting element out of contact with the next lower tube and to lift the end portions of the tubes engaged by said block.

14. In an apparatus for individually feeding collapsed bag tubes, a supporting structure having a part to support a stack of tubes, a feeding device movably supported on said structure to engage the lowermost tube in the stack and move the same forwardly with relation to the stack, means for actuating said feeding means, meansfor relieving the lowermost tube of a portionof 13 the weight of the tubes in the stack, including a lifting element movably supported on said structure and having a part to be engaged with the forward edge portion of an intermediate tube in the stack, other lifting elements supported on said structure and having parts to be engaged respectively with the lateral edge portions of intermediate tubes in the stack, additional lifting elements having parts to be engaged with the lateral edge portions of a plurality of tubes above but adjacent the lowermost tube in the stack, and means for moving said lifting elements into engagement with the respective edge portions of the tubes and for imparting upward movement thereto to lift portions of said intermediate tubes out of contact with the next lower tubes and to lift the edge portions of the tubes adjacent to the lowermost tube and resist the forward movement thereof.

15. In an apparatus for individually feeding bag tubes having gussets along opposite side edges thereof, a, supporting structure having a part to support a stack of the said tubes with a gusseted edge forward, a feeding device movably supported on said structure to engage the lowermost tube in the stack, a barrier supported above the tube supporting part of the structure, said barrier being spaced from said tube supporting part a distance to permit the lowermost tube only to pass beneath the barrier, hold down means including a. finger supported at the forward side of said barrier, means operable prior to the movement of said lowermost tube to move said hold down finger rearwardly beyond said barrier to a position above the gusseted leading edge of the lowermost tube and then downwardly to compress the gusseted portion of the tube to a thickness less than the distance between the lower edge of the barrier and the tube supporting part, said feeding device including a feeding element adapted to engage the lowermost tube rearwardly of the leading gusseted edge thereof and exert upward and forward force on said tube, whereby to cause the leading edge of the said lowermost tube to dip downwardly beneath the barrier and the entire tube to be fed forwardly under the said barrier.

16. The structure claimed in claim 15 wherein said feeding element comprises an arm secured to a shaft rotatably supported on said structure transverse to said structure and below said article supporting part thereof, said arm having a radial length slightly greater than the distance between'the axis thereof and the lowermost article in the stack, and means for rotating said shaft to move the outer end portion of said arm into lifting engagement with the lowermost article in the stack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 396,594 Pellatt Jan. 22, 1899 730,920 Joecken June 16, 1903 1,291,455 Felman Jan. 14, 1919 1,382,974 Grifliths June 28, 1921 1,433,911 Ritchie Oct. 31, 1922 1,588,843 La Bombarde June 15, 1926 1,804,612 Halvorsen May 12, 1931 2,636,733 Lewis Apr. 28, 1953 

